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Which soldering iron?


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Hi everyone. 

I'm wondering if anyone has any particular preference for a make/model of soldering iron for general soldering of wires for droppers, tracks, fitting modules that sort of thing? 

There's loads on the market and quite few with accessories but little actual trusted reviews on whether they are any good.

Tia.

Matt 

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Another thumbs up for Antex.

 

I have  a large selection of Antex irons in 18, 25, 30 Watt ratings plus a 50W digital soldering station.

 

I also have one of their hot knife cutters and a low temperature iron for use with white metal.

 

I find the big advantage with the Antex iron is the ease at which you can change tips, and the range of tips they have as alternatives.

 

I have a Weller 75 Watt iron for big jobs and a resistance soldering iron for special jobs.

 

 

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I would suggest that a plug in 50-70w temperature controlled one by Antex or Hakko, or similar name brand is probably worth having.  Get an assortment of tips for it too, a 1mm tip won't work when trying to join 12ga wire, and the same is true trying to do 32ga...

I have a couple of Weller ones as well, but my temperature controlled Hakko is what I use the most.  Good tools are almost always worth the investment when you are going to spend hours using them.

 

What I would stay away from is the "gun" type typically 50/150w jobs.  I found them carp to work with, the tips would loosen and generally they were despicable.  Cheap 25W Pencil ones are workable, but not as nice at all as a decent (almost inevitably temperature controlled) pencil type.

Resistance Soldering can be a great tool as well.  I don't have a RSU, but I know where to borrow one if I needed it.  if you get serious about building brass kits, RSU's work very well for that.  You certainly don't "need" a RSU like you do for general model building.  I'd view owning and being able to use a soldering iron as a substantial part of the transition from a "train set" to a "model railway"

 

James

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I have all Hakko irons. Great stuff 

 

I would recommend two things irrespective of brand , (a) 50w or greater , and (b) temperature controlled 

 

you need the power to aid the recovery time , especially if you venture into brass kits or soldering big wires , 25w takes too long to bring these fixtures up to temp or maintain them. Even for electronics etc 50w is about the minimum as it lets you solder fast 

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I gave away my Weller irons. I have two Antex ones but hardly ever use the 25W one. I use the 50W one temp controlled and it is perfect. The cord (from iron to station) is super flexible that it is hardly in the way. Very occasionally I get a great big 125/150W one out (or a torch) for big jobs like soldering up 8+mm brass bar for boilers but that's not on your list of needs.

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For the past 15 years I have been using a temperature controlled Maplin iron, which in actual fact was a Hakko unit branded differently, I have bought new tips for it over the years...all Hakko as they are proper solid quality tips.

 

The other iron I have which is great when access is impossible with a mains iron is an R.S. branded gas powered (butane) iron, works very well but temperature control is a bit hit and miss, it gets hot enough but difficult to turn the heat down in a controlled way, but it’s handy when only it will do the job.

Edited by boxbrownie
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I prefer a Weller soldering gun where I can use it, the speed it gets to temperature and cools back down is invaluable when small children and large octogenarians are around.

I have a new Antes 25 watt, the old one burned out, but the ancient 25 watt "Thing" I was given with a nice copper tip which I used in the mean time was a better iron, it just didn't have a clip to hang it up on. That is a big consideration for me. Some way to hang it up to ensure it doesn't melt the model, the cat or its own lead while you are distracted

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Another vote for the Antex 25 watt here but I'd recommend getting the one with the Silicon cable as it should make your life much easier getting to hard to reach places etc. Being able to easily change tips and having so many available is a God send.

 

A soldering station could be worth it if you have plenty of soldering to do but if it's just some dropper wires and a few other things then the 25 watt should be fine.

 

In an ideal world I'd have the Weller station that I use at work but then again they cost £450....

 

Josh

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The only thing I find annoying with the antex 25w is the plastic cable is very heavy in relation to the iron. You cannot leave the iron on a desk with the cable over the edge as it pulls it off onto your leg or the carpet... 
 

you need to buy a separate Spring type stand (the very basic wire loop on a base similar to https://images.app.goo.gl/PdagmxRQY45jQ7Z86 , that came with and worked fine for my original Woolworths iron is no good for them).

 

Both my Woolworths and maplin Temperature controlled iron had to be retired due to non-availability of tips that fitted, so if you find a tip you like I would consider buying a couple of spares to keep in stock.

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The only thing I find annoying with the antex 25w is the plastic cable is very heavy in relation to the iron. You cannot leave the iron on a desk with the cable over the edge as it pulls it off onto your leg or the carpet... 
 

you need to buy a separate Spring type stand (the very basic wire loop on a base similar to https://images.app.goo.gl/PdagmxRQY45jQ7Z86 , that came with and worked fine for my original Woolworths iron is no good for them).

 

Both my Woolworths and maplin Temperature controlled iron had to be retired due to non-availability of tips that fitted, so if you find a tip you like I would consider buying a couple of spares to keep in stock.

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39 minutes ago, Jonboy said:

Both my Woolworths and maplin Temperature controlled iron had to be retired due to non-availability of tips that fitted, so if you find a tip you like I would consider buying a couple of spares to keep in stock.

I found the Maplin (at least the one I bought) TC station iron used Hakko tips it being a rebranded Hakko iron.

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I have been using Antex 25 watt irons for years, they are a great all rounder especially for 4 mm scale, sometime ago I started to get interested in 7mm scale so needed more wattage, as a stop gap I bought a cheap 75 watt iron, whilst being a good stop gap it was cheap and a bit un weildly 

 

I had been thinking about a solder station with temperature control for some time and after a while plumped for this one

 

https://www.circuitspecialists.eu/soldering/soldering-stations/csi-premier75w-digital-temperature-controlled-solder-station-with-75w-soldering-iron/

 

I am now fully hooked on using temperature controlled irons, white metal soldering is even easier, then again with the same iron its happy doing the big jobs. Don't be put off by the 75 watts, like a car it has the power there but you do not have to use it. Should have bought one years ago. Have a look around and see what is available

Edited by hayfield
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People get confused about soldering iron power. A 70w iron doesn’t get hotter etc , power is used to reduce the recovery time it takes an iron to restore the tip temperature after each use. More power is always better and modern irons are now using integrated 100w elements   etc 

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After some research I ended up buying an Atten 938D - a digital temperature controlled unit and a set of 10 nibs of various sizes and shapes. Been delighted with its performance - been used across a wide range of tasks - PCB's, fitting decoders, droppers and general wiring and various jobs with brass. Did notice when changing nibs that there was a flake off the ceramic heater core and to be prepared, bought a spare. Its been sitting waiting about 2 years now for a problem to manifest itself....... Been excellent value for money and has done everything I have asked of it.

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For what the OP needs the 25w Antex is ideal. I have used one for many years and as a general iron it does everything that you need. If you venture into model making with it then keep a couple of bits of different sizes and practice which suits you best for different jobs. As others have pointed out you do need to work out a system for where you put it while in use. I tend to hang the lead over a suitably placed screw.

Bernard

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25 minutes ago, JimFin said:

After some research I ended up buying an Atten 938D - a digital temperature controlled unit and a set of 10 nibs of various sizes and shapes. Been delighted with its performance - been used across a wide range of tasks - PCB's, fitting decoders, droppers and general wiring and various jobs with brass. Did notice when changing nibs that there was a flake off the ceramic heater core and to be prepared, bought a spare. Its been sitting waiting about 2 years now for a problem to manifest itself....... Been excellent value for money and has done everything I have asked of it.

 

Jim

 

Totally agree with you, I opted for a different make of soldering station and bought a selection of different tips with differing styles and size, that was after being an avid Antex 25 watt user for over 15 years. Nothing wrong with a standard Antex 25 watt iron, its a good basic unit at an affordable price.

 

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